Switch



(No Model.)

H. P. BALL. SWITGH.

No. 520,474. 7 Patented May 29, 1894.

VVlTNEEJEEEl- 'I I V @smmwuw I QKQ (m (aw Q UNITE STATES FFIQEG SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 520,474, dated May 29, 1894.

Application filed March 12, 1894.

.To aJZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY PRICE BALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, county of Fairfield, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My inventionrelates to switches for lighting or power circuits and has for its object to construct a switch, of considerable carrying capacity, from sheet metal, with a minimum amount of labor, so as to produce a cheap and substantial switch of efiiciency and durability. To the ends pointed out, I construct my switch as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a side elevation, Fig. 2 a section upon the line 22 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 a similar section upon the line 33 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 a development of the blade C in Fig. 1, of the switch which I have designed.

Referring by letter, A is a base of ebonite, porcelain or any other suitable non-cond uctor.

Bis the blade of the switch which, as shown in Fig. 2, is double, as often practiced.

C, C are the other blades or contacts of the switch, C being formed of a single strip of sheet copper distorted or returned upon itself, as best illustrated in Fig. 3, being pro vided with a depression C under the end C of the strip, and this end being adapted to be compressed strongly by the screw F so as to engage with the circuit wire I. As shown in Fig. 4, the parts of the copper strip where it is bent over at C are cut away, as illustrated at C in order to lessen the pressure necessary to afford good electric contact with the wire. The screws F, F secure this part of the switch in place, they being countersunk into the base, as illustrated. The blade supporting the movable member of the switch is shown in Fig. 1 at C, a spring washer E secured in place by a cotter E taking up lost motion and forming agood contact. The two parts of the movable member of the switch are united by a portion G, which is bent around a pin P passing into a handle H, and secured in place by a nut P.

Serial No. 503377. (No model.)

The circuit wires I, I are shown as ordinary insulated cables, but may be any other form so of circuit wire.

By the construction illustrated I secure a very cheap and reliable form of switch, the parts of which may be stamped out of sheet metal, the parts C. and C being formed from a strip and the movable part B being formed from a sheet, so as to involve butlittle waste of material.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. As a new article of manufacture,a jackknife switch composed of sheet metal, as herein illustrated, consisting of amovable portion B and blades C, C formed of single strips of conducting material mounted upon a base;

the blades being distorted to afford a contact for the circuit wires, and the end of the blade being returned over the wire and secured in place by a screw adapted to compress the parts together.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a switch in which the conducting portions are formed entirely of sheet metal, comprising an insulating base, contact blades formed of sheet metal distorted to form a contact for the circuit wires, returned upon themselves, and provided with screws adapted to press the folds together to engage with the wire, such strips being cut away at their bent portions,

as herein described, and a movable member composed of a single piece of metal adapted to connect the contact strips.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a contacting member for a switch composed of a single piece of sheet metal bent upon itself 8 5 to form the switch blade B, the two sides of the blade being connected by a loop or fold, as G, and a handle secured to the switch member by a single pin passing through the loop or fold, substan tiallyas herein described. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 2d (lay of March, 1894.

HENRY PRICE BALL.

Witnesses:

H. FISH, W. H. Motor. 

